Had a debate with a friend about this. My friend says that GM is not capable of singing Rock & Roll. I think GM just never really wanted to go in that direction. Do you think George Michael can or could have been a good Rock & Roll singer?

It's a mis-argument, isn't it? Your friend says he's not physically capable. Your opinion is that he just never wanted to do rock n' roll. The question is though, if he wanted to go there, could he?

I don't think GM would be singing a Motley Crue song or covering "Sandman" from Metallica. However, he is quite versatile in his musical approach. I can't think what would be his most "rock" song, unless it's "Faith". I don't even remember him doing a rock mix of a song (on a 12" single). I think he could probably easily pull off something with a rock edge. Frankly I think "Faith" was screaming for a rock mix, or even "Spinning The Wheel".

Although....let's not forget Queen's "Somebody To Love", which isn't exactly an Earth, Wind, & Fire type song.

Your friend is wrong though. He/she underestimates the power of GM's versatility and voice.

Inversely, most rock singers couldn't sing George Michael's records.

Rock & roll ain't all about guitars.

What about "look at your hands" from his faith album...i could hear that song with guitars

robertlove said:

Yeah that's technically a rock song. I'd call it that. If it had guitars, it would've worked even more so. In fact it did have a guitar part just not a guitar solo.

NO

Cinni said:Inversely, most rock singers couldn't sing George Michael's records.


so does that mean
guys like Freddie Mercury can't sing every song by Michael without loosing breath ?

George is great singer but almost all singers from Classic Rock era are much better vocalists then George Michael
Robert Plant
Ian Gillan
Freddie Mercury
...

thebanishedone said:

I'd have to disagree. While Freddie is not with us anymore, and Ian is just throaty, and Robert as a higher tone to his voice, these guys aren't comparable with GM. GM sang a Freddie song or two, and fucking nailed it.

GM is one of the top 3 voices in the industry right now. He far out weighs Ian and Robert.

Robert Plant is good as a rock singer, but he doesn't have that tone and smoothness that GM has when he uses it.

Ernest yes Freddie is dead but i doubt George can
be compared to Freddie when it comes to singing
Freddie had much bigger range and there are rare singers
who can sing Queen songs
imagine George singing Show Must go on
he couldn't hit those crazy high notes Freddie hit with such an easiness .

i guess you are not Zeppelin fan but listen to Roberts range here:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...EiyGgWt6no

he goes from soft and tender to angry and raw screaming but still staying in tune.
George is great singer and i enjoy his songs but he is not a legend
look what happens when George try to sing with a legend here:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...O8hNvVBdIM

Smokey Robinson kills the shit of George on George's teritory
[Edited 1/25/10 18:50pm]

this is George singing:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related
this is original:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...jiapiq-hqY

i think original singer sings it much better but it's all about different tastes in music afterall

thebanishedone said:

lol! you're not serious, are you? Robert Plant a better vocalist than GM? Find some live material on youtube...really, i'm not a big fan of GM, but his voice is one of the best

so George Michael is better singer then Robert Plant
that i can hear on Prince.org